Bottle-crate.



UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER LINKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOTTLE-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 717,586, dated January 6, 1903.

Application filed April 25, 1902. Serial No. 104,598 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that 1, PETER LINKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bottle-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement-in bottle-crates, and has for its object to provide a crate so constructed that the partitions which divide the crate into compartments may be removed, so that the box can be thoroughly cleansed; and a further object of my invention is to so construct the partitions that they will be durable and not easily broken.

With these ends in view this invention con.- sists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a crate constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one corner of the partitions.

In bottle-crates the usual method of constructing the same is to make the partitions which divide the box in compartments inte-' gral with the box itself but when constructed in that manner it is very difficult to clean the box thoroughly, and it has been frequently tried to make the partitions set. in the box;

but the disadvantages of this method were that as nothing was provided for holding the partitions in. the box they were apt to get separated from the box and lost, and also as the ends of the partitions had nothing to support them they were easily broken. In my invention I provide the box with removable partitions to overcome all the disadvantages stated, as set forth in the following description.

ments. These partitions are formed in the usual manner by mortising one partition in the other in the well-known manner; but the ends of these partitions are not joined to the box; but I securethese free ends by running around three sides of the partitions a thin metallic band or strip 0. This band is socured to each of the protruding ends of the partition and may be secured to the ends of the partitions by nailing orscrewingthe same to the ends; but in practice Ihave found the most practical and economical way is to punch out portions of the band, so as to form tongues D, which are bent at right angles to the band and embrace the ends of the partitions upon each side. Thus the ends of the partitions upon each side and one end are supported almost if not as solid as if they were secured to the box; but upon one end the band does not pass around the partitions, and the protruding ends of the partitions are left free. Upon the interior of one end of the box are formed cavities or sockets E, and these sockets or cavities are of such a height and in such a position that when the partitions are placed in the box the free end of the partitions upon the end not encircled by the metallic band C will fit Within the sockets or cavities E, preventing this end from being lifted straight up out of the box. The manner of inserting the partitions is as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The free ends of the partitions are first inserted within the sockets E at an angle and then the partitions are pressed downward to the bottom of the box. Upon the interior of the opposite end of the box is formed a cavity F, in which is secured a spring G, upon the upper end of which is formed a shoulder H, protruding beyond the interior surface of this end of the box, and above the shoulder, the spring is formed upon an incline I, so that when pressing the partitions downward after the ends have beeninserted in the sockets E the metallic band C will strike the inclined surface I of the spring and press it back in the cavity F until the partitions are at rest upon the bottom of the box, when the spring will be allowed to spring upward to its normal position, when the shoulder H will engage the upper edge of the metallic band C, and thus prevent the removal of the partitions until the spring is pressed back in the cavity F by hand. The spring G is placed in the middle of the end of the box, so that it will come over one of the longitudinal partitions, and therefore will not interfere with the placing of the bottles in the crate and also will not tend to bend the metallic band 0 inward, as it would have a tendency to do if the spring engaged the band between the partitions.

The advantages of my invention are that the partitions may be quickly removed or placed within the box and when secured in the box cannot be accidentally displaced therefrom, and by running a metallic strip around the ends of the partitions I so form the partitions that they are strong and durable and at the same time do not require the box to be made any larger than that ordinarily used.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In a bottle-crate, a rectilinear box, a set of partitions formed by the joining together of a series of longitudinal and transverse strips, a metallic band extending around the two sides and one end of the set of partitions and secured to the outer ends of strips composing the partitions, said set of partitions being separate from the box, and means for removably securing said set of partitions in the box, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a bottle-crate, a rectilinear box, a set of partitions formed by thejoining together of a series of longitudinal and transverse strips, a metallic band extending around the two sides and one end of the set of partitions and secured to the outer end of the strips composing the partitions, sockets formed upon the interior surface of one end of the box into which are adapted to fit the unconfined ends of the strips forming the partitions, a spring secured to the opposite end of the box upon the interior adapted to hold the other end of the set of partitions against upward movement, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a bottle-crate, a rectilinear box, a removable set of partitions composed of a series of transverse and longitudinal strips joined together, a metallic band extending around the outside of the ends of the strips composing the partitions upon two sides and one end, tongues D punched from out of the metal band and bent upon the ends of the strip of the partitions upon each side for securing the band in place, cavities formed upon the in terior of one end of the box in which are adapted to fit the ends of the strips not encircled by the metallic band, a cavity formed upon the interior of the opposite end of the box, a spring secured in said cavity, a shoulder formed with the spring and protruding normally beyond the inner surface of the end of the box, an inclined surface I arranged above the shoulder and formed with the spring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER LINKER.

Witnesses:

H. B. HALLOCK, L. H. MORRISON. 

